Which Is Better, Snapchat Or Instagram? An Investigation

In the battle of the photo apps, which one is the betchiest? Clearly there's a fight for queen bee right now between the different apps, but only one can be prom queen. In case you haven't picked up on it, we're talking about Snapchat vs. Instagram. On the one hand, Snapchat was def here first, and it'd be hard to argue that Insta didn't literally steal every part of Snapchat's business model for themselves. On the other hand, Instagram is more popular and allows you to post your best selfies to the public, forever (or until Instagram folds, whichever comes first). It's hard to choose, but much like that summer where you had two boyfriends, you're gonna have to pick one. Let's take a look at the pros and cons of each by judging a specific set of very concrete and important metrics, so that when you fiinally run out of room on your phone you know which app to delete.

1. Getting a reaction on your photos

Instagram lets you like photos and get likes on your photos. If you need the dopamine rush of seeing the likes roll in, Instagram is def better. While Snapchat will let you reply to stories or snaps, nobody else can see what your friends are saying. So your crush can't see how many bros commented your beach pic with the fire emoji, and what's the point of that?

Winner: Instagram

2. Stalking your friends and enemies

Simply put, you can't do as deep of a stalking session on Snapchat the way you can with Instagram—it's not like you can stalk someone's Snapchat 52 weeks deep. Whether or not that's a good thing depends on your stalking goals. Also, Snapchat is a fucking snitch since when you watch someone's Snap story, it tells them you were creeping. Don't get me wrong, that's great for when I want the smug satisfaction of knowing my ex looked at my story featuring my new puppy, but not so great when I'm doing the stalking and I'm not tryna get exposed.

Winner: Instagram

3. Sending private messages

There's a whole song written about sliding into your DM's (thanks YG), but when it comes to messaging privately, Snapchat is like Kanye and Instagram is Meek Mill. If you Snap someone enough, icons will appear by their name (whose exact symbolism is unclear), so anyone who said making friends isn't a competition was def wrong. Instagram's DM's, on the other hand, feel like when someone pokes you on Facebook. It's an option, sure, but like it's just a little too transparent.

Winner: Snapchat

4. Posting stories

Instagram came into the stories game like a rapper moving in on your girl at the club. Instagram stories are like a push-up bra: We don't need it, but we'll use it when we're bored because we like the attention it gets us. Snapchat has way better filters, though, which is better for showing the world how basic you are makes posting Snap stories more fun. But Instagram has a wider audience because you probably have randos following you that you wouldn't have on your Snapchat. It's easier to post an Instagram story because you basically have Instagram open at all times, but even with the extra thumb movement Snapchat still has better options. Sometimes you just need to dog filter yourself for attention.

Winner: Snapchat

5. Going live

Snapchat doesn't have a going live option, so Instagram automatically wins on this. Instagram lets you go live, and the live video doesn't save the way Facebook does. Going live used to be horrifying to think about, but now we've come around to it. It's basically like posting a Snapchat in real time, and people interact with you more than they do on a post.

Winner: Instagram

6. Texting your crush

Both Snapchat and Instagram have messaging, but Snapchat's is def better. Snapchat's messages disappear after you read them, which means that any messages you send while drunk or after 1am don't count. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about that fuckboy who tried to finesse a hookup via Instagram DM's, which you obviously posted on all your social media immediately after. Also, sexting is 100% better on Snapchat. How would you even sext on Instagram?

Winner: Snapchat

7. Making people jealous of your life

Instagram is better for posting shit you want people to actually see, like your beach vacation pics or that time you met Drake. Snapchat is better if you want to individually make someone jealous, because you can see the second they've watched your story. If you're trying to low-key let Brad know you're dating someone new, use Snapchat. If you're trying to let that girl in your marketing class know you went to Fashion Week, use Instagram.

Winner: Tie

Even though it's a tie, we're going to say Instagram is the winner because you can judge more people and get more attention. But on days when their face filters are good, Snapchat is def the winner. If you want to have the best of both worlds, Hannah Montana, you could always just download your selfies with the Snapchat filters and post them to Instagram. That may be cheating and the most annoying thing in the universe, but again, just like two-boyfriend summer, sometimes you just need to double dip.

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